Key Word

Question 1

Ahimsa

Question 2

Angkor Wat

Answer 2

– Temple built by a Khmer (Cambodia) king in the early 12 th century
– Elements of Hinduism and Buddhism existing in historical layers
– Today a UNESCO heritage site

Question 3

Aung San Suu Kyi

Answer 3

• Buddhist pro-democracy advocate
• Daughter of a famous general = popular support
• Was living in England but returned to Myanmar in 1988 to support pro-
  democracy movement
• Placed under house arrest in 1989 (released in 2010).
• Nobel Peace Prize in 1991
• Brings together Buddhist principles with modern democratic values
• Buddhism outside of the monastery, a powerful force in the political life
• Buddhism as a living tradition
• 2015 – her political party wins the general election = becomes a civilian
  leader
• 2017 – Myanmar army accused of ethnic cleansing against Muslim
  minorities in the country – Aung San Suu Kyi denied the accusation
• 2021 – military takes over Myanmar (again) - Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders under military supervision

Question 4

Bon Dance (Obon)

Question 5

Buddhaghosa

Answer 5

• A famous commentator on the Pali Canon (4 th century, originally from
  India)
• The name literally meaning “Buddha utterance”
• The most famous work, Path of Purification (early teachings on
  meditation).

Question 6

Buddhist Churches of America

Question 7

Buddhist Peace Fellowship

Question 8

Chan

Answer 8

• Chan means “meditation”
• Meditation School
• Eventually becomes Zen in Japan
• Direct person-to-person transmission of teaching.
• Emphasis on the experience of enlightenment over the textual study of scriptures.
• Bodhidharma (460-534 CE) – Indian meditation master
  o Chan Lineage starts with Bodhidharma

Question 9

Confucianism

Answer 9

– Based on the teachings of Confucius (551–479 BCE)
– Emphasis on filial piety, ritual propriety, proper decorum in relationships with others.
– Highly influential in East Asia
– Confucian view of the world
* Emphasis on the harmonious relationship between heaven, earth, and human society
* Emperor stood at the center of this relationship
* Observed prescribed rituals, embody moral virtues, etc.

Question 10

Dalai Lama

Question 11

Dana

Question 12

Dogen

Question 13

Faxiang

Answer 13

• The Chinese Yogacara school
• The name literally means “Marks of the Dharma ” – influenced by Vasubandhu
• Organized by the monk Xuanzang
• Xuanzang (596–664)
• Traveled to India to collect sutras
• Translated many sutras into Chinese
• Later featured in the epic “Journey to the West

Question 14

Five Precepts

Question 15

Gelug

Question 16

Honen

Answer 16

o Concern for the “Degenerate Age of the Dharma” (mappo)
o The only way to enlightenment = faith in Amida
o Emphasis on Nembutsu (Namu Amida butsu)

Question 17

Hsi Lai Temple

Question 18

Huineng

Answer 18

o “Platform Sutra of the Six Patriarch”
* Studied under a famous Chan master Hongren 弘忍 (601-674 CE), the Fifth Patriarch.
* Hongren holds a competition to decide his successor – write a verse that expresses your understanding of enlightenment.
* Shenxiu (606-706 CE)
o “The body is the tree of perfect wisdom. The mind is the stand of a bright mirror. At all times, diligently wipe it. Do not allow it to become dusty.”
* Huineng’s verse
o “Fundamentally perfect wisdom has no tree. Nor has the bright mirror any stand. Buddha Nature is forever clear and pure. Where is there any dust?”
* Huineng wins the competition

Question 19

Jingtu

Answer 19

• Pure Land School
• Emphasis on the devotion to Amitabha
• Popular among the common people
• Hope for future salvation (birth in Amitabha’s Pure Land)

Question 20

Kami

Answer 20

native gods, spirits in nature, ancestors, emperor

Question 21

Mahinda

Question 22

Marpa

Question 23

Milarepa

Question 24

Mongkut

Answer 24

– A modernizing force of the Thai sangha
– Led a movement called the “Thammayut order” (“those holding to the Law”)
* Emphasized strict observance of the Vinaya precepts
* Presented Buddhism as a rational, scientific religion by getting rid of its “superstitious” and “irrational” elements (magical beliefs,
rituals, etc.)

Question 25

Nichiren

Answer 25

o The founder of Nichiren School o Claimed that the Lotus Sutra was the only way to salvation o “Namu myoho rengekyo” o Claimed that Japan would be invaded by “foreign bandits” unless the Lotus Sutra was honored--Mongol Invasions (1274 and 1281) o Some thought Nichiren predicted the Mongol Invasions o “Kamikaze” – “divine winds” that protected Japan from the Mongols

Question 26

Orientalism

Question 27

Padmasambhava

Question 28

Pali Canon

Answer 28

* Collection of scriptures for the Theravada school (established in Sri Lanka in the 1 st century B.C.E) * Clear organizations of texts among Sutra, Vinaya, and Abhidharma * Contains the earliest accounts of the historical Buddha * Marks Buddhism’s transition from oral to written tradition * In some Southeast Asian countries, the study of Pali still mandatory for monks * Some keep alive the oral tradition

Question 29

Prince Shotoku

Question 30

Sanlun

Answer 30

* The Chinese Madhyamika school * The name literally means “Three Treatises” – based on three major Madhyamika texts – heavily influenced by Nagarjuna * Established in China by Kumarajiva (344-413CE)

Question 31

Scholar-Practitioner

Question 32

Shingon

Answer 32

– Shingon means “True Word “ (mantra) – Founded by Kukai (774-835, also known as Kobo Daishi) – traveled to China to study Buddhism – Studied Tantric Buddhism in China – Kukai brought Tantra to Japan and established it as the Shingon School – Monastery on Mt. Koya – Esoteric (tantric) rituals popular at the court – Goma Fire Ritual

Question 33

Shinran

Answer 33

o A disciple of Honen o Expanded upon Honen’s teachings. o Founder of “True Pure Land” denomination (separate from Honen’s denomination) o Reliance on the “other power” (tariki), as opposed to “self-power” (jiriki) o Largest Buddhist denomination in Japan today

Question 34

Shinto

Question 35

Sila

Question 36

Sohei

Question 37

Soka Gakkai

Answer 37

o One of Japan’s (many) new religions (Name literally means “Society for the Creation of Value”) o Based on the teachings of Nichiren o Daimoku – reciting the name of the Lotus Sutra (Namu myoho rengekyo) o Soka Gakkai connected to the political party “Komeito” o Soka Gakkai members very active during election cycles. o One of the most active and influential new religions today.

Question 38

Taoism

Answer 38

– Based on the teachings of Laozi (???) – Emphasis on inner contemplation, spontaneity, and union with nature. – Quest for immortality. – Tao (Dao) * Literally, the “Way,” “Path” * Underlying essence of all reality * Outlined in the central Taoist text called Daodejing.

Question 39

Tendai

Answer 39

– Founded by Saicho (762-822, Dengyo Daishi) – Japanese version of the Tiantai School (founded by Zhiyi) – Saicho studied in China on Mt. Tiantai – Stressed the importance of the Lotus Sutra – Buddhism and the Emperor * Mutual dependence between Buddhist establishments and the Japanese state (the state supports the sangha and the sangha legitimizes the state). – Mt. Hiei – the foundation of many later schools of Buddhism

Question 40

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer 40

– Peace activist since Vietnam War – Engaged in antiwar activities * Rebuilding bombed villages, establishing clinics, providing assistance to farmers, etc. – Exiled from Vietnam (lived in France mainly) – Holds meditation retreats for Vietnamese refugees and American Vietnam veterans – Example of “engaged Buddhism”

Question 41

Tiantai

Answer 41

* Literally “Heavenly Terrace,” named after the mountain on which the school was found. * Organized by Zhiyi 智顗 (531-597) * Developed a system of classification of Buddhist teachings * The Lotus Sutra is the ultimate teaching